One big school of fish or two smaller schools?

DBlauj · 06-17-2012, 08:36 PM

What do you guys prefer as far as schooling fish go? One big school of schooling fish or two smaller schools? I have a 29g with 5 neons right now and am debating if I should add 5-8 more neon's or add another small group of 5-7 harlequin rasboras. Any thoughts guys?

Aquarist14 · 06-17-2012, 08:52 PM

I think you should do one big school of neons, fish feel safer in large numbers and IMO look much more natural.

Mike1239 · 06-17-2012, 09:22 PM

Agree one large School for a 29 would be best if it was a 55 or larger I would go with two schools of 15

**jkan0228** · 06-17-2012, 09:30 PM

I'd go with the bigger school as well.

What else doyou have in the 29G?

**Complexity** · 06-17-2012, 09:42 PM

One big school of fish. Then other fish as accents.

The only exception to this is when you get two schools of fish that stay in different places in the tank on a regular basis. For example, in one of my 29g tanks, I have a school of cardinal tetras and a school of another tetra (sorry, can't remember the name). The second tetra always stays at the surface while the cardinals stay in the mid and lower levels of the tank. The two schools never mix even during feeding.

However, with a tank so small, you have to be careful with the number of fish you have in each school or you can quickly overload the tank. So I think it's usually best to stick to one school so you can get more of them for a bolder display.

DBlauj · 06-17-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkan0228

I'd go with the bigger school as well.

What else doyou have in the 29G?

A harem of apistos and 2 otos(3 unfortunately died)

smokaah · 06-17-2012, 10:08 PM

I have 8 neons in a 29 they are happy with a few other fish.

DBlauj · 06-17-2012, 10:13 PM

I decided to add 7 more neons and It really does look better than having 2 different schools. I still love Harlequins but they will have to wait for another tank or a bigger one. Thanks again guys

LB79 · 06-18-2012, 05:03 AM

One school of one species has much more impact. However, in a large tank, you could do both as they occupy different levels of the water column.

06-17-2012, 08:36 PM	#1
DBlauj Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/83%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: WI Posts: 264	One big school of fish or two smaller schools? What do you guys prefer as far as schooling fish go? One big school of schooling fish or two smaller schools? I have a 29g with 5 neons right now and am debating if I should add 5-8 more neon's or add another small group of 5-7 harlequin rasboras. Any thoughts guys?

06-17-2012, 09:30 PM	#4
jkan0228 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (105/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 5,386	I'd go with the bigger school as well. What else doyou have in the 29G? __________________ First Planted 95G Mr. Aqua 11.4 Crypts and Shrimp Post Your Rare and Pricey Crypts!

06-17-2012, 09:42 PM	#5
Complexity Pelvicachromis Lover! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 5,058	One big school of fish. Then other fish as accents. The only exception to this is when you get two schools of fish that stay in different places in the tank on a regular basis. For example, in one of my 29g tanks, I have a school of cardinal tetras and a school of another tetra (sorry, can't remember the name). The second tetra always stays at the surface while the cardinals stay in the mid and lower levels of the tank. The two schools never mix even during feeding. However, with a tank so small, you have to be careful with the number of fish you have in each school or you can quickly overload the tank. So I think it's usually best to stick to one school so you can get more of them for a bolder display. __________________ Vicki —Rena Filstar pimp #142 (four XP4s/three XP2s/one XP1) • Eheim pimp #301 (Pro II 2128) • Victor pimp #27 (VTS-253B-320) • 90g - Journal Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'Moliwe' —— • 75g - Journal Pelvicachromis pulcher 'Lagos Red' Better Pics 8-24 • 29g - Journal Pelvicachromis pulcher 'unknown' —-- • 29g - Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'Moliwe' • 5g - RCS colony —————————————————— • 2.5g - Journal Retired

06-18-2012, 05:03 AM	#9
LB79 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South-central Washington State, USA Posts: 1,784	One school of one species has much more impact. However, in a large tank, you could do both as they occupy different levels of the water column. __________________ "It's not who you are that makes you great; it's what you do." –Batman Begins

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06-17-2012, 08:52 PM	#2
Aquarist14 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 292	I think you should do one big school of neons, fish feel safer in large numbers and IMO look much more natural.

06-17-2012, 09:22 PM	#3
Mike1239 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: Baltimore md Posts: 174	Agree one large School for a 29 would be best if it was a 55 or larger I would go with two schools of 15

06-17-2012, 10:08 PM	#7
smokaah Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: York, Pa Posts: 354	I have 8 neons in a 29 they are happy with a few other fish.

06-17-2012, 10:13 PM	#8
DBlauj Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/83%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: WI Posts: 264	I decided to add 7 more neons and It really does look better than having 2 different schools. I still love Harlequins but they will have to wait for another tank or a bigger one. Thanks again guys